Bouquet-holder



(No Model.)

N. E. VARNEY.

BOUQUET HOLDER.

No. 425,967. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

W/T/VE88E8: lNVE/UOR Z ATTORNEY.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN E. VARNEY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BOUQUET-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,967, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed January 15, 1890 Serial No. 337020. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, NATHAN E. VARNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bouquet-Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bouquet-holders5 and the object of my improvement is to provide a device more espe cially designed for holding what is ordinarily termed a button-hole bouquet, but the principle of which may also be employed in constructing receptacles for larger bouquets designed for stands or mantels, said device to be simple in construction, economical in cost, reliable, durable, and eifective.

To these ends my invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of my invention, in which drawings Figure 1 is a side View of the entire device in elevation. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 00 00, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4. is a cross-section taken on the line 3 y, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows the removable interior portion of the device open. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the same partly closed.

In the Views, let the referenceniumeral 1 indicate the outer shell, tube, or case, provided with a suitable pin 2, by means of which it may be fastened to the garment upon which the bouquet is to be worn. Tube 1 maybe of any desired shape or contour in eross-section and may be formed of any desired size, depending on the number of flowers or the size of the bouquet to be retained therein.

3 is a thin plate of sheet metal, of such dimensions that it may be readily inserted in tube 1. Plate 3 is provided with a small lug or hook 4, adapted to catch on the edge of tube 1 when plate 3 is inserted in the tube.

To plate is secured, by means of small catches 5, or in any other suitable manner, a strip (5, of sponge or other fabric capable of absorbing and retaining moisture. This strip of fabric is about twice the length of plate 3, so that when secured thereon, as shown in Fig. 5, its free portion 7 may be folded over upon the part secured to the plate.

In the use of the device the stems of the flowers forming the bouquet are placed on the fabric 6. The free portion 7 of the moistened fabric is then folded over upon the stems. The inoisture-retaining device with its c011- tents, or the inclosed flower-stems, is then inserted in the receptacle of tube 1, which may then be pinned upon the garment where it is to be worn.

If the fabric 6 is suitably moistened before inclosing the stems of the flowers therein, a bouquet thus put up will be kept fresh for a considerable period of time.

It will be observed that the tube 1 may be ornamented to any extent desired, and also that it may be constructed with a suitable base for supporting the flowers upon a mantel or stand without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. A bouquetholder consisting of a suitable receptacle, in combination with a moistureretaining device adapted to enter the receptacle, said device being composed of a plat-e 3, to which is attached a strip of fabric 6, extending beyond the plate and adapted to fold over thereon, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a suitable tube, cup, or case, of a plate 3, adapted to enter the same, said plate being provided with a hook 4, adapted to engage the upper edge of: the case, and a strip of sponge or other suitable fabric secured to said plate, extending beyond the same and adapted to fold over thereon, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a tube 1, closed 5 at the bottom and provided with a suitable pin 2, of a moisture-retaining device adapted to outer tube 1, said device consisting of a plate 3, covered with a strip of fabric 6, said strip extending beyond the plate and de- Io'o signed to fold over thereon, substantially as stems of the flowers preparatory to insertion described. in the tube, substantially as described. IO 4. The combination, with a tube 1, c1osed In testimonywhereof Iaffix my signature in at the bottom and provided With a suitable presence of two Witnesses.

\ pin 2, of a device adapted to inclose the stems NATHAN E. VARNEY.

of a bouquet, and consisting of a plate 3, cov- WVitnesses: ered With some suitable fabric, which extends W. H; OBRIEN,

beyond the plate and folds over upon the XVM. MCOONNELL. 

